Combination package and dispenser



Dec. 4, 1962 R. J. KIDD 3,066,796

COMBINATION PACKAGE AND DISPENSER Filed July 26, 1960 llllllllI1!lll||IIIHUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 8 7 INVENTOR.

ROLLQ J. KIDD FIG. 3 w/ M ATTO R N EYS ilnited States Patent 3,066,796 CQMEINATION PACKAGE AND DISPENEK Rollo Kidd, 3662 Lewis Road, Cleveland 24, Ghio Filed .luly 26, 1969, Ser. No. 45,376 2, Claims. (Ci. 2ll665) This combination relates, as indicated, to a combination package and dispenser and more particularly to a device adapted to hold a series of small containers and the like in either a compact package or in a manner in which the objects held may be displayed or dispensed.

l-leretofore, many efforts have been made to provide lazy-Susan type devices for the display and dispensing of such things a condiments, painters oils, small articles such as nails, screws and many such other commodities. However, these familiar devices are not intended and cannot be employed for any other purpose and, in particular, cannot serve as shipping containers to transport such assortment of articles and the holders therefor as an assembled unit.

It is accordingly a principal object of my invention to provide a device which can be used both as a package for an assortment of articles as well as a display or dispenser for such articles.

it is a further principal object of my invention to provide a simplified form of package for a plurality of articles.

It is yet another object of my invention to provide a simplified display and dispensing device for a plurality of articles.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of my device in its package condition;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan View of such device; and

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of my device in its dispensing condition.

Referring now to the annexed drawing and more particularly to FIG. 1, it will be seen that my illustrated device comprises an imperforate circular plate 1 having an elongated threaded stud 2 centrally aihxed thereto as at 3 and a circular plate 4 having a threaded aperture 5 centrally therein whereby the stud 2 may be threaded therethrough.

The plate 1 is imperforate Whereas the plate 4 is provided with a series of circular apertures 6 which extend about the periphery thereof, with the illustrated embodiment showing six such circular apertures. These apertures 6 may accommodate objects such as small bottles or jars 7 provided with caps 8 threaded on the slightly enlarged top portions 9 thereof. It is noted that the aperture 6 is or" a diameter only slightly larger than the diameter of the peripheral shank portion it? of the bottle or jar 7 such that the jar may be easily inserted into such aperture, but the enlarged portion 9 will not pass through such aperture. Accordingly, such jar may be wedged within such aperture by a slight downward pressure.

it may now be seen that in the FIG. 1 condition, the imperforate plate 1 constitutes a cap or top and the stud Z affixed thereto may be threaded through the aperture 5 in the perforate plate 4 and with a plurality of objects such as the bottles or jars 7 positioned within the aper- Patented Dec. 4, 15-3 62 tures 6. The plate 1 may then be revolved to screw the top down onto the caps to force the bottle or jars downwardly firmly to wedge the bottles within the apertures 6. In this condition, not only will be objects firmly be held within the apertures in the plate 4, but, as is readily understood, the caps 23 of such objects will also be held in place and cannot therefore be inadvertently removed or work loose during shipment. This package condition also firmly holds the bottles or jars 7 spaced from each other such that in shipment they cannot touch. Moreover, the jars being within the periphery of the plates 1 and 4 cannot be damaged by objects coming laterally against the package, the plate edges thus acting as bumpers.

When the package arrives at its selling or displaying destination, the top 1 is then removed by revolving the top to unscrew the stud from the aperture 5 and such plate 1 is then inverted to become a pedestal, as shown more particularly in FIG. 3. The perforate plate 4- is then threaded onto the stud 2 through the opening 5 and becomes a revolvable supporting plate for the objects 7. The plate 4 with the objects 7 supported thereon through the aperture 6 is, of course, free to rotate about the stud 2 such that a lazy-susan type of device is obtained. Rotation, of course, can be precluded simply by screwing the plate 4 downwardly on stud 2. When the bottle or jar 7 contacts the imperforate plate 1, as shown at 11, the free rotation of the plate a and the objects therein will, of course, be precluded.

On a sales counter, a device set up such a this, makes the object 7 readily available to the purchasers and such can easily be removed from the plate 4- simply by lifting out through the aperture 6. Glass jars or bottles are ideal ways of displaying and selling paints, small hardware items, such as screws, nails, etc, or any of a variety of objects or materials. In the case of foods or paints, the purchaser in purchasing the entire set will take the device home as a package again by inverting the imperforate plate it to become a top instead of a pedestal and when the device is again to be used, the top is removed and placed in the pedestal position shown in FIG. 3. In the case of foods, the unit may be placed directly upon the table and serve as a lazy-susan device for the dispensing of relishes, for example, or an artist may use such device for the mixing of colors and the plate 4 may readily become a palette for oil colors contained within the various containers 7.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of such be employed.

I, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A combination package and dispenser comprising a pedestal having a central elongated threaded fixed stud projecting upwardly therefrom, said stud being threaded along a substantial length thereof from one end, a plate having a central threaded aperture therein threaded on said stud, said plate being provided with a plurality of peripheral apertures, a plurality of containers supported in the peripheral apertures of said plate with first ends thereof exposed at the outer side of the plate, the latter being freely rotatable on said stud, said pedestal and stud being separable from said plate and capable of being returned in inverted threaded relation therewith with the pedestal overlying said first ends of the containers supported in the plate.

2. A combination package and dispenser comprising a cover plate having a central elongated threaded fixed stud projecting therefrom, a container receiving plate having a central threaded aperture therein threaded on said stud, a plurality of peripheral apertures in said container 3366,7913 3 4 receiving plate, a plurality of containers supported in References Cited in the file of this patent said peripheral apertures having enlarged portions gripped UNITED STATES PATENTS between said cover plate and container receiving plate,

with first ends of the container overlaid b I the thus posi- QQ P May 51 1942 tioned cover plate, said cover plate and stud being re- 5 2934580 Power et a1 1950 movable from said ccntainer receiving plate, and returnable in inverted threaded relation on the stud rotatably FOREIGN PATENTS to support said container receiving plate and the containers therein with said first ends of the latter exposed 611,653 Great Britaln 2, 1943 for access at the outer face of the plate. 10 

